Why Hair Changes With Age, and What to Do About It

Your body goes through many changes with age - and so can your hair. Thick, shiny locks can become dry, thin, and gray, or even disappear altogether.

Why does hair change as you get older? Here's a look at the changes to expect, changes that might be cause for concern (and when to see a doctor), and how to keep your hair healthy as you get older.

How Does Hair Change With Age?

As you age, your hair will change just as your skin does, says Kerry Yates , a trichologist (an expert in scalp and hair issues) and the founder of Colour Collective in Dallas. You're likely most familiar with graying and balding, but that's not the only adjustment to prepare for. Here are the changes to expect.

Hair Changes Color With Age

Hair can start graying as early as your thirties.

But many factors can influence when gray hairs appear, including hair care habits and hair quality, quantity, and color in younger years.

Hair Gets Thinner With Age

It's normal to lose about 50 to 100 strands of hair per day, even when you're young. The strands you lose get replaced by new hair, but as you get older, your hair growth slows, causing you to lose hair faster than it can be replaced. This leads to thinner hair.

Balding (or androgenic alopecia, a condition that causes permanent hair loss) is also a common occurrence, affecting about 50 percent of males by age 50.

Meanwhile, about one-third of all females experience baldness at some point during their lives.

Hair Can Get Brittle With Age

Has your hair become more breakable and fragile as the years have passed? That's another normal sign of aging. "There is a cuticle layer that surrounds the hair follicle, and this becomes weaker and less resilient as we age," says Lindsey Bordone, MD , a dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.

Hair Can Get Drier (and Wiry or Frizzy) With Age

Hair becomes drier, frizzier, and more wiry over time, perhaps due to changes in the scalp's production of sebum, which is oil that moisturizes the hair.

"As we age, the sebaceous glands produce less oil, leading to a drier scalp with less moisture and elasticity," Dr. Bordone says.

What Causes Hair to Change With Age?

As you age, your hair follicles produce less melanin, a pigment that gives hair its color. With less melanin, the hairs turn gray and eventually white.

This change in hair color can start earlier than other changes, such as scalp dryness and brittle strands. The latter changes may begin around age 45 or 50 when your scalp slows down sebum production.

Reductions in sebum production decrease shine and softness, turning the hair more brittle, Yates says. Environmental factors, such as long-term ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight, can also contribute.

Hormonal changes that occur while we age often affect hair, too. Menopause , for example, causes estrogen levels to drop. Estrogen promotes hair growth and density and helps create the natural oils that smooth hair. The loss of estrogen can leave hair more brittle, dry, and prone to breakage.

Hair becomes thinner because the diameter of each hair strand decreases after reaching its maximum diameter in your forties. That, combined with the fact that hair grows more slowly and some hair follicles stop producing hair, causes hair loss and baldness .

How to Slow Down Aging's Effects on Hair: 7 Tips

Some lifestyle habits have an anti-aging effect on the hair, helping delay, lessen, or reverse changes.

Here are some treatments and best practices for maintaining healthy hair with age.

1. Don't wash too frequently. Over-shampooing can make hair dry and brittle. If you have an oiler scalp, you may need to wash daily, Bordone says. But if you have a drier scalp, try washing just twice a week.

2. Commit to a healthy lifestyle. Smoking and nutritional deficiencies, such as a vitamin B12 deficiency , can lead to premature graying.
   And certain nutrient and vitamin deficiencies can cause hair loss , including vitamin D , iron , vitamin B12, and more. To keep hair healthy, avoid smoking and eat a diet rich in healthy fats, protein , iron, and vitamins A, E, and D.

3. Try a scalp serum. "Look for one with ingredients like niacinamide , hair-barrier-supporting lipids like ceramides , and ingredients like caffeine that stimulate hair follicles," says Omer Ibrahim, MD , a board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology.
4. Cut back on heat styling. Blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can damage the hair, so use them as infrequently as possible. Even cutting one or two days of heat styling per week can make a difference. When you do use heat styling tools, be sure to use a heat-protectant product. These products add moisture to protect hair from heat damage.

5. Try medications. Minoxidil and finasteride are medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat hair loss. Minoxidil is an over-the-counter treatment that can be used by men or women and is applied topically. Finasteride is a prescription oral medication for men.

6. Don't skimp on hair conditioner. Applying conditioner helps replenish the natural oils removed by shampoo. This can keep hair shiny and healthy.

7. Protect your scalp from UV exposure. The sun's UV rays can cause discoloration, dryness, thinning, and split ends. Prevent damage by applying sunscreen to your scalp and hair, wearing a hat, and avoiding midday sun.

When to See a Doctor About Changes to Your Hair

"It's natural to see hair changes as we age," Dr. Ibrahim says, adding that the changes usually appear gradually. But drastic, sudden changes to your hair could be a sign of illness, a serious health condition, or a nutrient deficiency, particularly if your lifestyle, diet, and medications have remained the same, Ibrahim says.

Bordone advises you to visit a healthcare professional if you develop any of the following on the scalp:

• Redness
• Bumps
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Excessive hair loss
• Patchy hair loss (such as round, smooth bald spots)

The Takeaway

As you get older, your hair will change in texture, density, and color and become thinner, grayer, and more brittle. Lifestyle strategies, such as eating a healthy diet, avoiding cigarettes, protecting hair from sun and heat, and using appropriate hair products and medications can prevent or delay age-related changes. While gradual hair changes are normal, sudden changes should be evaluated by a doctor. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

Sources

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3. Hair Loss: Overview. American Academy of Dermatology Association .
4. Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenic Alopecia). Cleveland Clinic . December 9, 2022.
5. Female Pattern Baldness. Cleveland Clinic . May 3, 2023.
6. Healthy Habits: Hair and Scalp Hygiene. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . May 7, 2024.
7. Nori M. Impact of Environmental Stressors on Hair. New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists . July 12, 2021.
8. DePolo J. Menopausal Hair Changes. Breastcancer.org . January 30, 2024.
9. Your Guide to Aging, Thinning Hair: 5 Simple Tips. Cleveland Clinic . June 30, 2020.
10. Kumar AB et al. Premature Graying of Hair: Review With Updates. International Journal of Trichology . September–October 2018.
11. What You Eat Promotes Radiant Hair, Skin and Nails Naturally. Mayo Clinic Health System . May 26, 2022.
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14. Best Ways to Protect Your Hair From Sun Damage. Cleveland Clinic . March 29, 2023.

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Blair Murphy-Rose, MD

Medical Reviewer

Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of Skincare Junkie. She is an accomplished cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist, specializing in leading-edge facial rejuvenation techniques, including injectable fillers and botulinum toxin injections, advanced laser procedures, noninvasive body contouring, and removing lumps and bumps with precision. She is an expert in the treatment and detection of medical conditions, including skin cancer, acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Dr. Rose believes in a comprehensive approach to skin health and incorporating a skin-care routine tailored specifically for each individual and utilizing a wide array of tools to target specific skin concerns.

Rose has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , Dermatology Surgery , and Pediatric Dermatology , and has been featured in numerous publications, including Vogue , Elle , Allure , Cosmopolitan , Self , Women's Health , The Wall Street Journal , and The New York Times .

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